spca of tompkins county

In a few weeks, George, the dogs, and I are walking in the 2014 March for Animals to help the animals at the SPCA of Tompkins County. (You can see how much the dogs loved it last year!) We hope you will help us change the lives of homeless animals by sponsoring us in the March.

The SPCA, the nation’s first no-kill shelter, provides adoption services, educational programming, and cruelty investigations. It was through the SPCA that we adopted our beloved Norman. With donations like yours, the SPCA is able to continue its lifesaving work. Your generosity allows the SPCA to:

Save dogs from high-kill shelters in other communities by bringing them to Ithaca for adoption

Provide medical care for dogs and cats that have been victims of animal cruelty and neglect

This year, the Ellis-Nosis family wants to raise $500 $800 for the SPCA. We hope you can help us by donating any amount. You can donate online through Firstgiving. You can also send a check made out to the SPCA directly to me (email me for my address). Or if you are local, join us in the March, which will be at Cornell Plantations on October 4.

Press Release Provided by the SPCA of Tompkins CountyITHACA/June 18 In celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the Dorothy and Roy Park Pet Adoption Center, the SPCA of Tompkins County is taking the extra step toward environmental and financial sustainability with the installation of a large roof mounted solar array beginning on June 17th.

The Dorothy and Roy Park Pet Adoption Center, when it opened in 2004 adjacent to the existing shelter (now the Rescue building) was the first LEED certified animal welfare agency in the United States.

“To say that I am excited about this next chapter in our history would be an understatement!” says Jim Bouderau, executive director. “We are taking the next step in our future as a financially and environmentally sustainable organization by going solar.”

Since taking over in 2011, Bouderau has been striving to improve the infrastructure of the SPCA for long-term fiscal responsibility. Working with a Cornell alumnus who is both an SPCA supporter and a solar consultant, Bouderau and the SPCA’s board of directors researched for several months the possibility of solar power for the shelter’s electrical needs.

The adoption center structure is ideally situated and suited for a substantial roof mounted solar array. The SPCA projects a cost savings on electricity of more than $6,600 per year based on current NYSEG rates and projects a savings of over $340,000 over the 25 year life of the system as NYSEG rates increase.

The cost of the system was reasonable, but was well beyond the agency’s normal financial means. With the financial support of several lead donors who realized the importance of this project and the long term impact on the organization, Bouderau was able to raise the necessary funds and the shelter is now ready for implementation. “We could not have even dreamed of embarking upon this project without some very special friends committed to the SPCA of Tompkins County, and by extension to the entire No Kill movement. It thrills me that we are able to have the array installed this summer and know that we will begin to see budgetary savings this fiscal year.”

Renovus Energy has been contracted to install the panels, and has completed the last bit of site work, readying the site for installation this week.###

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I am very excited about the SPCA’s solar panel project which required Jim to hustle to find supporters who wanted to earmark their donations for the installation. (If I’d have had an extra $8,000, I would have given to the project!) Already having a silver LEED certification, committing to renewable energy reinforces the importance of sustainability to the organization. Although the SPCA isn’t the first animal shelter with solar panels, it is among only a handful that are making the investment. Ultimately, though, the investment will not just reduce energy costs allowing more of the budget to be devoted to programming. It also will impact the long-term health of the planet. I hope that other communities will look to this milestone as an inspiration for their own animal shelters.

On a side note, George briefly worked for Renovous Energy. The employees there are knowledgeable and committed, and I know the SPCA is in good hands.

I knit two cat beds for the Tompkins County SPCA. The sides are floppy, but the beds themselves are cushy, so I hope some of the cats will enjoy them. For this, I received three medals – one in Free Dance (an open event), one in Charity Curling, and one in Stash Skeleton (for using yarn that has been in my stash for awhile).

The March for the Animals was at the beautiful arboretum at Cornell Plantations. Unfortunately, it was a very rainy day, but we had fun anyway! The March raised around $90,000 for the SPCA. Thanks to everyone who sponsored us!

After a request came in from Best Friends, the Tompkins County SPCA took in 20 little pups from high-kill shelters in Los Angeles. Most of the dogs were adopted within days! This is one of the reasons we are marching to help raise funds for the SPCA. You can still sponsor us today!

Walter would like you to sign up to participate in the Tompkins County SPCA March for the Animals, which will be on Saturday, September 22. The March will start at the Cornell Vet School and end at Cornell Plantations, where there will be a band, BBQ, and more celebrations!

If you can’t walk, please sponsor us via our fundraising page or click on the March logo on the top right of the blog.

The money will help the SPCA with their mission of saving animals – it’s the biggest fundraiser of the year.

SPCA’s March for the Animals is just one month away. Have you registered yet? Don’t miss this opportunity to help the animals of our community while having fun on an early fall walk. This is a critical fundraiser for the SPCA of Tompkins County and they need all hands on deck. In a few days, I’ll tell you how you can sponsor me in the walk if you aren’t able to participate in the March yourself.